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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
NASA's InSight mission is dying. Next could come the ‘Mars Life Explorer’
If there is Martian life then it could be in ice water under the red planet’s surface. The Mars Life Explorer, included in the most recent Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey, would search for this.
Rather remarkable robots
The robotic explorers of our Cosmos are truly impressive, as showcased by several spacecraft this week.
Sights beyond the visible
See images your eyes wouldn’t normally be able to see, and learn about what these images can teach you.
Breaking new ground
Whether it’s a mission, a policy decision, or an individual person, sometimes all it takes is one thing to change the way we explore.
Planetary accessorizing
Planets are beautiful and fascinating enough on their own, but there’s no denying that moons and rings add a little something special.
How do planets get moons?
Here are the distinct ways in which the moons of our Solar System formed.
Persevering through it all
Exploration will always face setbacks, but this week’s Downlink reminds us of the impressive human ability to persevere.
First steps and big leaps
Technological innovation is a big part of the fun of space exploration, and you can help make it happen.
A hazy shade of winter
A Martian explorer hunkers down for winter and a planet’s haze is explained.
It’s not easy being this far out
Distant robots run into problems, and distant worlds hold onto secrets — for now.
A little too close for comfort
From gas orbiting a supermassive black hole to asteroids orbiting near the Earth, sometimes the vastness of space can feel a bit tight.
Your cosmic community
There’s no limit to what a community of like-minded space enthusiasts, advocates and even famous luminaries can achieve when we all work together.
That’s so metal
Gear up for a mission to a metallic world and catch up on the latest in space news.
Are we trashing space?
Humans have left many objects throughout space — whether it's archaeology or simply littering is up for debate.
The value of knowledge
Space exploration comes at a cost, but the investment is always worthwhile.
Beyond the far side
Explore the two-faced Moon and meet two new projects paving the way for the future of space science.
Space brings out the best in us
Space exploration is at its core an optimistic, peaceful and cooperative endeavor. This week we look at some reminders of that spirit of exploration.
Shoot for the moon that shoots back
Saturn’s moon Enceladus has some intriguing features: snow, ice, geysers, stripes and much more, all waiting to be further explored.
Alone in space, but not lonely
Comet Leonard heads out to roam free in interstellar space, alongside rogue planets, their moons, and maybe even life.
What sci-fi dreams are made of
From a space station cemetery to a super-resilient spacecraft, the feats of human ingenuity that make space exploration possible are the stuff of science fiction dreams.